Latest articles by Ruth Emery
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M&S finally resumes click and collect service following April’s cyber attack
Marks & Spencer has switched its click and collect service back on, and said it will now accept returns in all UK stores. As the high-street giant continues to battle with the fallout from a cyber attack 15 weeks ago, should you invest in the retailer?
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Can you pay into someone else’s pension – and how much can you pay?
Two-thirds of savers are unaware they can put money into someone else’s pension, but contributing to a loved one’s nest egg can be a sound financial decision. We explain the rules.
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HMRC savings tax crackdown: More workers to pay tax directly from their wages
Banks and building societies will be required to obtain National Insurance numbers from savers to make it easier for HMRC to tax those who breach their personal savings allowance
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IFS: Wealthier areas set to pay more council tax under government plans
Council tax reforms could see households in wealthy areas, including London and the home counties, hit with big bill increases, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies
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Number of families using Tax-Free Childcare rises - but thousands of parents still missing out
News Only about half of Tax-Free Childcare accounts are used, while many eligible families haven’t even opened an account. Could you be missing out on help worth thousands of pounds?
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What Santander’s takeover of TSB means for customers
Shareholders in Sabadell, TSB’s owner, have voted in favour of the £2.65 billion sale to Santander. What does it mean for customers, and could we see the TSB brand disappear from the high street?
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Halifax: House prices rise at fastest pace since start of year
The average UK house price jumped 0.4% in July, reaching £298,237, close to a record high, new house price index data shows. Will property prices increase further this year?
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Best investing apps – Trading 212, MoneyBox, Plum and more
Looking for an easy-to-use app to help you start investing, keep track of your portfolio or make trades on the go? We round up the best investing apps
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Britain’s retirement happiness hotspots: where are the best places to retire?
We look at the top areas for retirement wellbeing, taking into account housing, health, community, nature and access to amenities. Is your town on the list?
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Car finance claims: Will the chancellor stall car finance commission payouts
The Financial Conduct Authority is considering how a motor finance compensation scheme would work ahead of the court judgment but the Treasury may slam the brakes on compensation
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Over-50s savings accounts - what’s on offer and are they any good?
As Saga gets ready to launch an over-50 savings product with NatWest later this year, we look at what accounts for older savers are already on the market
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Rents outpace mortgages with 21% rise over three years
Renters have seen a bigger increase in their monthly housing costs since 2022 than mortgaged homeowners, according to Zoopla
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Government revives Pensions Commission to tackle retirement savings crisis
Almost half of working-age adults save nothing into a pension. We look at why tomorrow’s pensioners are on track to be poorer than today’s
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Don’t miss 31 July ‘payment on account’ tax deadline
Many self-employed people have a second tax payment deadline. With an 8.25% interest charge on late payments, it’s important to pay your bill on time
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St James’s Place confirms new fees – what it means for customers
The UK’s largest wealth manager is replacing its “opaque” and “complex” pricing structure. We explain the new charges, and when they will kick in
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Workplace pension schemes: how do defined benefit schemes differ from defined contribution ones?
Explainer UK workplace pension schemes come in two forms: defined benefit and defined contribution. But what's the difference between them?
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How to make your pension ethical
Advice Many people want to ensure the way they spend and invest their money has a positive impact on the planet, and that includes saving for retirement. But how do you make your pension as ethical as possible?
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Rachel Reeves announces permanent 95% mortgage guarantee scheme
Mortgages offered through the scheme will mean first-time buyers and home movers can buy a home with a deposit of just 5%
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Did you get the £100 Nationwide bonus? Here’s how to check
Nationwide finished paying its £100 Fairer Share bonus last week. We explain what to do if you didn’t get it but think you’re eligible
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Thousands of estates are sitting unclaimed in the UK – is your family name on the list?
More than 5,700 unclaimed estates are on a government list waiting to be found by living relatives. We take a look at the list, and explain how to make a claim
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City bosses call for stamp duty on shares to be scrapped to save UK stock market
Hargreaves Lansdown, IG, AJ Bell, Bestinvest and Interactive Investor - along with business lobby group CBI - are calling on the government to take urgent action to encourage people to invest in the UK stock market
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Inheritance tax refunds: how to claim money back if asset prices fall
Families make 18,000 reclaims for overpaid inheritance tax in three years, often due to a decline in property prices. We explain how to claim an IHT refund
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IFS: Ditch the triple lock and promise never to means-test the state pension
As part of a blueprint to make us richer in retirement, the Institute for Fiscal Studies is urging the government to reform the state pension and hike pension contributions for high earners
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Nationwide: House prices see biggest monthly fall in over two years
UK house prices dropped by 0.8% in June, according to Nationwide. We reveal the top-performing and worst-performing regions
